, 1887-10-14
GEN. GRANTS HOME LIFE.
A Pleasant Picture of the Inner Charao-
ter and Life of the Great Chienain.

In a recent interview Santee Chambliss,
the former valet of Gen. Grant, defined
his duties to nave consisted in waiting ex-
clusively upon the general. Il went to
his bed chamber early in the morning. l
at once laid out the clothes that he should
wear for that day. l invariably placed
out fresh linens, adjusted his set of dia-
mond or gold studs just as fancy struck
me, polished his shoes, poured out
water for his toilet and awaited for fur
ther orders. The general left the selec-
ton of suit for the day entirely to my
own taste.
'Mrs. Grant only was fastidious in
dress. There could hardly be found a
finer wardrobe in the land than she had.
Her wearing apparel was simply superb.
h generals wardrobe was very com
plete also, but he never knew what clothes
he had, for his tastes were plain in
every respect. The materials were of the
very best, but nothing fancy. He wore
mostly dark clothes, always button shoes,
a standup collar turned back and never
any other than a black tie. He never in
dicated to me the kind of suit he would
wear. l simply selected from a large
variety according to my own Judgment,
and he wore them" Mr.. Chambliss
went on further to say: 1.-THE very first
thing | would do in the morning was the
taking of the morning papers to the
boudoir, where L placed them on the
table. They generally were The Times,
Herald, World and Tribune, but he got
papers from all the principal cities of the
country ait mail time.
81 would next enter his bed chamber
and often would find him lying in bed
Cnnplinn n nigrar H. lol 4, ,ln;u H. Ii,
bed where he deposited the ashes. l
greeted him with good morning, and he
would return it with a kindly expression
of face, but seldom would say more than
now and hen ask about the weather. If
/ were to ask him a question or two he
would answer them, that's all. His words
were few; he seldom commanded, but
one could know by his one or two words
hat was meant, and you always were
inclined to carry out his wishes. l always
had to put on and button his shoes, hold
his coat, but he adjusted the collar and
tie himself. He took a bath twice a
week. | knew the time and always had
the water turned on for him.
1.-The general, =" he continued, ''always
went from his bed chamber straight to
the boudoir. He went there with a
cigar in his mouth. He scanned the
papers hastily and smoked at least three
cigars before breakfast call. He went
down to breakfast with cigars in his
pocket, N if he should happen to nave
forgotten the placing Of any there, he
would at once ask the butler to bring
him some. With scarcely the last NOR
sci swallowed, the butler would be ready
with lit match and the general would
smoke. He at the same time handed
cigars over the table to his sons, who
would join him in this delicious des-
sert."
What kind of cigars did the general
use?"
well. once heard him tell Mrs. Grant
that his cigars cost thirty-nine cents each
by the thousand. He smoked a very long
and large cigar, specially made to order.
In fact his cigar would put any ordinary
sample in the shade us regards size. He
generally had two dozen boxes on hand,
and two brands of them. He always
favored the large cigar. The valet could
always gain the consideration of being an
alert servant if he would notify him of
the near exhaustion of his stock. Gen
cral, only one box of cigars on hand!'
well, | will nav some sent up was his
invariable answer, and he never failed.
''Aftcr breakfast the general would
often walk to the elevated station. Fifty
ninth street. in Sixth avenue and oo
down to his office in Wall street. The
carriage often stood ready by thn front
door. but he Frequently preferred walk
ing. He took downtown lunch Mt I
O'Clock. and came home TO dinner. which
was served Mt Gn IN. In thea afternoon
on his return from the office and befor,
he entered the bouse, he went TO the
stables, ordered his fayorite horse and
took n drive in the park. Upon entering
the house his first order was: Get me the
evening paper Mrs. Grant never failed
TO greet him at the head of the stairs
most affectionately, She called him
ULYSSES he called her Mrs. Grant,
She ALWAYS kissed him upon his depart1re
from the house and upon his return to il.
In speaking of the table habits of the
general and his family the valet. with n
wears experience as butler. went on to
say; ..They set n very fine table indeed
They had the finest of tableware that
could be found, Ii was ALWAYS Mrs.
Grants greatest desire TO have good and
long dinners For this meal the eotahIes